Mequon, Wis. - On Saturday, the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks men's basketball team traveled to Wisconsin to take on Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) competitor Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons. With the Hawks (3-13, 2-7) leading the Falcons (6-9, 6-4) by 11 points at halftime, the Falcons would have a second half comeback to force overtime action. The two sides remained even at the end of the first overtime before the Falcons pulled away in the second overtime period, defeating the Hawks 77-73. 

First Half (Concordia University Wisconsin 25 - Illinois Tech 36)

• Garrison Carter opened up the contest with a three at 19:14. Almost two minutes would go by before the next basket would come, this time in favor of the Falcons with a layup at 17:32 to make the score 3-2 in favor of the Hawks. Caden Gigstad then hit a three before a scoreless streak followed between the two sides. Two free throws by the Falcons at 14:45 broke the streak. The Falcons then took the lead at 13:59 off a three pointer. After baskets were made by both sides, the Hawks were able to tie the game and take the lead briefly with a layup and a free throw by Andrew Veon with 11:00 on the clock. Here the Hawks led 11-10. A layup put the Falcons on top before the Hawks took back the lead and held it for the remainder of the half. With 2:29 remaining until halftime, the Hawk Nicolas Ortiz made a layup to give the Hawks a 12-point, 31-19 lead, their largest lead of the half. Gigstad closed out the half for the Hawks with two made free throws with 8 seconds remaining. Then, at the buzzer, Gigstad nailed a three pointer to send the two sides into the locker rooms with the Hawks leading the Falcons 36-25. 

Second Half (Concordia University Wisconsin 34 - Illinois Tech 23)

• Coming out of halftime, the Hawks would build on their lead. At the 18:37 mark, the Hawks held their largest lead of the game as they led the Falcons 41-27 after a Dario Biagii three pointer. From there, the Falcons began to chip away at the Hawks lead. Between 16:49 and 10:53, the Falcons would go on a 16-2 run to tie the contest up at 43-43. The Falcons then were able to lead for almost the remainder of the second half as the Hawks fought to stay within reach. A layup by Veon tied the contest at 57-57 with 38 seconds remaining. Free throws by the Falcons put the home team up by two with 12 seconds left in regulation. Then, with just two seconds on the clock, Carter was able to make a layup to tie the contest at 59-59, sending the game into overtime. 

Overtime One (Concordia University Wisconsin 10 - Illinois Tech 10)

• During the first five minute overtime period, the Falcons went up with two free throws at 3:58. A jumper by Ortiz tied the contest at 61-61 before Gigstad made a three pointer with 1:53 to put the Hawks on top 64-61. The Falcons would go on to tie the contest at 64-64 with a three pointer of their own before the two sides went back and forth with the Falcons ending up on top 67-66 with 32 seconds remaining. With 15 seconds on the clock, the Falcons recorded two free throws to take a three point lead. A buzzer beater three pointer by Ortiz tied the contest and sent to two sides into a second overtime. 

Overtime Two (Concordia University Wisconsin 8 - Illinois Tech 4) 

• Similar to the first overtime period, the Falcons made two free throws at 3:59 to take the lead. Two free throws by Veon tied the contest at 71-71 with 3:06 remaining. Layups by both sides tied the game at 73-73 with just under a minute to play. In the end, the Falcons ended up on top as they defeated the Hawks 77-73. 

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Caden Gigstad - 17 points, 5-of-13 from the field, 4-of-8 from three, 3-of-4 from the free throw line, 3 rebounds, 1 steal

• Garrison Carter - 15 points, 6-of-14 from the field, 3-of-6 from three, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals

• Andrew Veon - 15 points, 5-of-14 from the field, 5-of-6 from the free throw line, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 steal

• Nicolas Ortiz - 11 points, 5-of-7 from the field, 1-of-2 from three, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals

Falcons Standouts

• Sam Meerstein - 25 points, 6-of-16 from the field, 5-of-12 from three, 8-of-9 from the free throw line, 7 rebounds, 2 assists

• Gabe Pruss - double-double, 17 points, 6-of-8 from the field, 5-of-8 from the free throw line, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 blocks, 1 steal 

• Matt Merlo - 11 points, 4-of-5 from the field, 3-of-3 from three, 6 rebounds, 1 block

• Jason Freeman - double-double, 10 points, 2-of-16 from the field, 6-of-6 from the free throw line, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal

Inside the Box Score

• The Hawks were 26-of-73 (35.6%) from the field, 11-of-31 (35.5%) from three, and 10-of-13 (76.9%) from the free throw line

• The Falcons were 23-of-59 (39.0%) from the field, 7-of-29 (24.1%) from three, and 24-of-28 (85.7%) from the free throw line.

• The Falcons finished with 30 points in the paint while the Hawks finished with 24

• 24 of the Hawks points came off turnovers while the Falcons had 14 points off turnovers

• Off the bench, the Hawks recorded 21 points while the Falcons had 8

Up Next

The Hawks will be on the road on Wednesday, January 17, as they take on the Concordia University Chicago Cougars in NACC action. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM